LIFE SUNDAY 2021 – “From Invisible to Indispensable!” / LIFE WEEK 2021
“From Invisible to Indispensable!” is Lutherans For Life’s theme for Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, which is set for January 24, 2021. Your congregation can observe Sanctity of Human Life Sunday on that date or at any time during the year.
Our Life Sunday 2021 theme is based on 1 Corinthians 12:22: “On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable …” (ESV)
(Also see … New for 2021 – Life Week 2021!)
Use the resources below to help unpack this theme and what it means for the For Life movement, both nationally and in your congregation and community. Our prayer is that these materials will provide valuable information and encouragement to you, your community, and the life-affirming work you are engaged in.
Here is what is available: Bulletin Inserts • Bible Study • Children’s Message • Worship Service • Sermons • VIDEO • Life Sunday 2021 flyer
Note: Our Life Sunday 2021 bulletin insert is available to order through Concordia Publishing House (CPH). The Life Sunday 2021 bulletin insert is also available to download at the links below for use with PowerPoint and as an email attachment. All other Life Sunday 2021 resources are available as downloads below and are not available through CPH.
Download: 2021 Life Sunday Flyer – “From Invisible to Indispensable!”
LIFE SUNDAY 2021 BULLETIN INSERT: From Invisible to indispensable!
Order bulletin insert: “From Invisible to Indispensable!” at CPH
Download: 2021 Life Sunday bulletin insert PDF
Download: 2021 Life Sunday bulletin insert front JPEG
Download: 2021 Life Sunday bulletin insert back JPEG
LIFE SUNDAY 2021 JUST FOR KIDS BULLETIN INSERT
Download: Just For Kids (“From Invisible to Indispensable!”) (PDF – reproducible)
LIFE SUNDAY 2021 CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
Download: Children’s Message – From Invisible to Indispensable (PDF)
LIFE SUNDAY 2021 BIBLE STUDY
Download: Bible Study with Leader’s Guide – From Invisible to Indispensable (PDF – reproducible)
LIFE SUNDAY 2021 WORSHIP SERVICE
Download: Worship Service – From Invisible to Indispensable (PDF)
Download: Worship Service Text – From Invisible to Indispensable (Word)
Lutheran Service Builder Share Link: Worship Service – From Invisible to Indispensable
MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR THE VICTIMS OF ABORTION
Order “A Memorial Service for the Victims of Abortion” at CPH
Download: A Memorial Service for the Victims of Abortion (PDF)
Download: A Memorial Service for the Victims of Abortion – Text (WORD)
LIFE SUNDAY SERMONS BASED ON THE 2021 THEME
Sermon One: 1 Corinthians 12:12-26 “From Invisible to Indispensable”
Rev. Michael W. Salemink, Executive Director of Mission and Ministry, Lutherans For Life
Download: 1 Corinthians 12:12-26 “From Invisible to Indispensable” – Rev. Michael W. Salemink (PDF)
Download: 1 Corinthians 12:12-26 “From Invisible to Indispensable” – Rev. Michael W. Salemink (Word)
Download: 1 Corinthians 12:12-26 “From Invisible to Indispensable” – Rev. Michael W. Salemink (PowerPoint)
Sermon Two: 1 Corinthians 12:22-26 “One of Life’s Most Profound Mysteries: From Invisible to Indispensable”
Rev. Fredric Hinz, Public Policy Advocate, Minnesota South and Minnesota North Districts LCMS
Download: 1 Corinthians 12:22-26 “One of Life’s Most Profound Mysteries: From Invisible to Indispensable” – Rev. Fredric Hinz (PDF)
Download: 1 Corinthians 12:22-26 “One of Life’s Most Profound Mysteries: From Invisible to Indispensable” – Rev. Fredric Hinz (Word)
Sermon Three: 1 Corinthians 12:22-27 “From Invisible to Indispensable”
Rev. Steven P. Carlson, Pastor, Ruthfred Lutheran Church, Bethel Park, Pennsylvania
Download: 1 Corinthians 12:22-27 “From Invisible to Indispensable” – Rev. Steven P. Carlson (PDF)
Download: 1 Corinthians 12:22-27 “From Invisible to Indispensable” – Rev. Steven P. Carlson (Word)
Sermon Four: 1 Corinthians 12:22 “From Invisible to Indispensable”
Rev. Jonathan Lange, Pastor, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Kemmerer, Wyoming, and Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Evanston, Wyoming, and 3rd Vice President, Wyoming District LCMS
Download: 1 Corinthians 12:22 “From Invisible to Indispensable” – Rev. Jonathan Lange (PDF)
Download: 1 Corinthians 12:22 “From Invisible to Indispensable” – Rev. Jonathan Lange (Word)
Sermon Five: John 1:43-51 “Invisible to Indispensable”
Rev. Michael W. Salemink, Executive Director of Mission and Ministry, Lutherans For Life
Download: John 1:43-51 “Invisible to Indispensable” – Rev. Michael W. Salemink (PDF)
Download: John 1:43-51 “Invisible to Indispensable” – Rev. Michael W. Salemink (Word)
From Main Street Living Twin Cities – January 24, 2021
“Life Sunday is celebrated annually in the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. This year the message will be presented by Rev. Michael Salemink, Executive Director of Lutherans For Life. His message titled ‘From Invisible to Indispensable’ will be based on 1 Corinthians 12:12-26.”
We are Lutherans for Life (2021) Video
We are Lutherans FOR Life (2021) video is also available on YouTube.
2021 Life Sunday Bulletin Insert Text Adapted to Sign Language
SPECIAL OFFERING BULLETIN INSERTS
Download: Special Offering Bulletin Insert with Form Fillable Text Box – (offering this month) (PDF)
Download: Special Offering Bulletin Insert with Form Fillable Text Box – (offering today) (PDF)
SPECIAL OFFERING NEWSLETTER/BULLETIN ARTICLE
This Life Sunday, Consider an Offering for LFL
On January 24, 2021, many Lutheran churches across the country will observe Sanctity of Life Sunday. As part of this, dozens of congregations will collect an offering for Lutherans For Life (LFL). If yours is one, we thank you and praise the Lord! The number of churches and church auxiliaries participating continues to go up. In 2018, 8.5% of churches helped LFL. This support is also vital since 95% of our funding comes from individuals and churches. We receive no subsidies, tuition, insurance, or government reimbursement, etc.
Of course, if January 24 is not a workable Sunday, churches are free to select any one they wish this winter or any time during the year. Also, if your congregation does not collect door offerings, gifts that are budgeted or directed by a mission committee, endowment board, LWML, etc., are most welcome.
Send gifts and offerings to:
Lutherans For Life
1101 5th Street
Nevada, IA 50201-1816
Questions regarding LFL or its programs can be directed to the national office at 888.364.LIFE (5433) or info@lutheransforlife.org.
LIFE WEEK 2021
Calling All For Life Supporters! LFL is excited to announce a brand new multi-generational online and in-person opportunity: Life Week 2021: Invisible to Indispensable. Plan to join us each day from Saturday, January 23, through Saturday, January 30, 2021, to learn about, share, and build excitement For Life in your home, church, school, and community! Each themed day will explore a distinct aspect of life ministry through local activities, online educational events, and interviews. Top off the week in person or online with mountaintop experiences like the March for Life and Y4Life in Washington, D.C. Watch for more news on our Facebook page and on our Life Week 2021 page!
LIFE SUNDAY EXTRAS
Download: Life Sunday Sermon – Jesus Shows Us the “Great” Life – Mark 9:33-37 – Rev. Peter Sulzle (PDF)
Download: Life Sunday Sermon – Jesus Shows Us the “Great” Life – Mark 9:33-37 – Rev. Peter Sulzle (Word)
Download: Bible Study – Life Issues – Rev. Dr. Jayson S. Galler (revised) (PDF)
Download: Song – “Beautiful in Its Time” by Melissa Blanton (PDF)
Download: Hymn – “God Has Gifted Me Within You” by Michael L. McCoy (PDF) – Author note: “Proverbs 31:8a declares the exhortation for us to ‘speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.’ So, ‘putting words into a baby’s mouth,’ [this] hymn is an unborn baby speaking to his or her mother. It began as a poem, but quickly became a hymn. The tune is from TLH 523 or LSB 756 (‘Why Should Cross or Trial Grieve Me’ by Paul Gerhardt) … and is probably best sung as a solo. My desire was to speak for the unborn child in general and to convey the message that the little one, from the moment of conception onward, is someone who has been created by God and died for by Jesus the Christ. In addition, it is my attempt to address what is especially Lutheran—namely, that we long for the opportunity for the little one to be born in this world and in order to be born from above in Holy Baptism.”
WAYS TO SHARE THE FOR LIFE MESSAGE ALL YEAR LONG
- Include Life Quotes and Life Thoughts in the Church Year in your bulletin or newsletter and on your website.
- Provide copies of LifeDate for members of your congregation. (Contact LFL at 888.364.LIFE (5433) to order.)
- Place a white flower in/on chancel/altar when a person is baptized (representing the new life found in Christ).
- During worship services, display crib quilts which can later be donated to a pregnancy center.
- Have a “Celebrate Life” service on March 25 (The Annunciation of our Lord).
- Make a “For Life” banner for church in conjunction with Life Sunday or other event.
- On Life Sunday, celebrate the baptism of all children baptized since the previous year’s Life Sunday. Each family gets a letter of invitation prior to the Life Sunday “celebration.”
LFL designed our Life Sunday materials to complement one another. We encourage using as many of the resources on this page as possible.
Download: 2021 Life Sunday Flyer
Concordia Publishing House – Lutherans For Life Store Page
Concordia Publishing House – Additional Lutherans For Life Life Sunday Resources